Opening Ceremony of the Vancouver Winter Games, February 12, 2010

One year ago the Winter Games were opened in a spectacular Opening Ceremony in Vancouver, the first such winter games ceremony held in an indoor stadium.

As I watched the ceremony, I had already written most of AIDEN’S ARRIVAL: HONOR BEFORE GOLD.   The Winter Games of Vancouver and Whistler are the main backdrop for the book, although it includes some travel to Europe, as well.

It is somehow very fitting that most of the story in AIDEN'S ARRIVAL: HONOR BEFORE GOLD takes place prior to the opening ceremony of the games.  The story has Aiden and the other boys and girls taking on honorary roles as ‘Faces of the Games.’  One of Aiden’s main tasks is to perform as a forerunner for the Men’s Downhill, and he works very hard to prepare for that role.  The Men’s Downhill is scheduled very early in the Games, so immediately after the opening ceremony, he and others are on a bus back up to Whistler.

How did Aiden prepare for his role in the Games?  How did he get there in the first place?  Oh, and how does he do in his role as a forerunner on the day of the Men’s Downhill?

You will have to read the book to find out, and for readers of this blog, I am making the book free, for the one-year anniversary duration of the Games (that is, until 2-28-2011), by simply entering Coupon Code PP74C at Smashwords.

AIDEN'S ARRIVAL: HONOR BEFORE GOLD...Dreams of another life; or reality? Aiden struggles to honor the legacy of his very young physical self, while dealing with memories of a tragedy that seem impossible to reconcile. At the same time, Aiden has been thrust into a public role in the Winter Games with extraordinary expectations for any boy his age. What challenges must Aiden confront? Can Aiden find the courage to meet this reality? 

If you’ve never been to Whistler, you’ll like this short video called miniature Whistler, and you’ll see why Aiden liked Whistler so much.  Want to know still more about Whistler?

If you’ve never seen what makes up a Men’s Downhill ski racing course, you’ll like this NY Times interactive view of the Dave Murray Men’s Downhill at Whistler, rated as one of the best (and toughest) courses in the world.

Happy Reading,

Wil

AIDEN'S ARRIVAL arrives with special introductory price - limited time offer

AIDEN'S ARRIVAL arrives, and is now available as multi-format eBook at Smashwords. Special introductory "Set you own" price is for a very limited time only. Read the book, and find out how well Aiden does on the Men's Downhill course at Whistler.

What would you do, if this was you?

You wake up. You’re on a plane. But the body you’re in does not appear to be yours. They are calling you Aiden, but that’s not your name. The next hours and days are confusing as you try to figure out how this works, and how long it’s likely to last. At the same time, you have to decide if you should tell anyone and have them doubt your sanity, or just keep quiet. In the meantime, you have to adapt and use the body you have, even if you meet up with people you knew before.

You also discover you have just stepped into a public role at the Winter Games that thrusts you into a journey and series of exploits beyond anything you could have thought possible. Will you continue to be Aiden, or will the real Aiden arrive? How will you or Aiden do on the Dave Murray Downhill course at Whistler?

“Aiden’s Arrival” is an adventure novel set in the worlds of downhill skiing, aquatics, and international competition. “Aiden’s Arrival” is also a story of love, family, and courage with a twist incorporating the great question: Can we come back as someone else? Do we all, or just in rare circumstances? And; if we do come back, how might it work?

Happy Reading,

Wil

Aiden's Arrival arrives in 3 days - right now read great article about Whistler's Dave Murray Downhill course

Aiden's Arrival arrives in only 3 days, on January 1, 2011. It will be available as a multi-format eBook on Smashwords, and as a print book on Lulu.com. The first four chapters are still available on this blog.

In the meantime, you can read this great Seattle Times article by Ron Judd, about the Dave Murray Downhill course at Whistler. The article was one of a series about the 2010 Olympic Games, and was published on February 12, 2010. The article mentions the crazy Canucks of the late 1970s and early 1980s, including Steve Podborski, Ken Read, Dave Irwin, and Dave Murray. The article also includes an interview with 2010 Canadian Ski Team member Julia Murray, Olympic torch bearer at Whistler in the lead up to the Games, and daughter of the late Dave Murray.

Happy Reading,

Wil